Clebanoff and His Orchestra

Herman Clebanoff was born on May 2, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois to his Russian immigrant parents. Starting violin lessons at the budding age of five, Clebanoff was seen as a
child prodigy. Two years after receiving musical lessons, he had his first recital. Clebanoff's musical talents expanded throughout high school, when he acted as first chair
violinist in a plethora of string quartets. Clebanoff was also an accomplished concertmaster. By the young age of 20, Clebanoff had already achieved the status of Concert Master
for the Chicago Civic Orchestra's, as well as being the Chicago Symphony's youngest member.

In 1939, Clebanoff joined the Illinois Works Progress Administration, or WPA, Symphony. Clebanoff took this opportunity to play to a wide and varied group of audiences.
Although he took a leave of absence in 1943 to work for the New Orleans Orchestra, Clebanoff returned to Chicago in 1945, where he produced a string orchestra of his own:
The Clebanoff Strings. Many pieces were created in collaboration with this orchestra.

In 1958 he issued his first LP with Mercury, Moods in Music, featuring musette and his "echoing" violin to great success. He then recorded several marvelous film themes LP's
with songs such as: "Secret Love" (featured in Calamity Jane), "Song from "Raintree County", "Wild Is the Wind", "A Certain Smile", and "The High and The Mighty."

Clebanoff's music inspired a global following due to his unique style and superb musicianship. Clebanoff also worked with other a musicians including fellow Chicagoan
Caesar Giovannini, a superb pianist, and Wayne Robinson as arrangers. Clebanoff is known for his love of creating and producing new music as well. By the mid-1960s Clebanoff's
music had shifted from strict film and classic pop music to more modern popular music (pop) with limited success. He left Mercury and recorded only one album for Decca -
Once Upon a Summertime.